Q: How many credits are required for the MBA at Penn State Great Valley?
A: Between 30 and 45 credits are required to complete the MBA degree. Students may be exempt from up to 15 credits from the core courses for previous academic preparation.
Students are expected to meet the pre-program requirement in quantitative skills via previous coursework prior to beginning the MBA program.
Q: Do you allow students to transfer credits into the program?
A: A maximum of 10 graduate credits earned at an accredited institution may be applied toward the requirements for a master's degree at Penn State Great Valley. Approval to apply any transferred credits toward a degree program must be granted by the student's academic adviser and division head. Courses considered for transfer must have been completed within five years prior to the date of enrollment at Penn State, and must have a grade of at least a B.
Q. What is the format of the program? Will you be offering flexibility due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?
A: Our courses are offered in seven-week sessions and our program is not a cohort program, giving you the flexibility to take classes whenever is most convenient. meeting during evening hours and/or Saturdays. Classes that meet during the week are usually scheduled for two days a week, for three hours per session for seven weeks, while Saturday classes meet for six hours on seven Saturdays. Due to COVID-19, we offer flexible instructional modes designed to help you reach key learning outcomes and allow you to engage with faculty, peers, and course content.
Remote Synchronous Instruction: Students attend all classes remotely at the scheduled time. Faculty will identify the communication and collaboration tools appropriate for real-time interaction and engagement.
Mixed-Mode Instruction: A combination of instructional modes is used to meet social distancing requirements in physical spaces, while also providing students with opportunities for face-to-face interaction and access to specialized on-campus spaces and equipment.
Q: Is the GMAT or GRE ever waived?
A: The Admissions Committee considers a number of factors in the review of MBA applications. The GMAT is important because it provides information about an applicant's skills that are important in business school and which relate to an applicant’s potential for success in the program. We encourage all applicants to take the GMAT or the GRE. Some applicants, however, may be eligible for a GMAT or GRE waiver.
Q: Do I need any prep courses?
A: Prior to enrolling in the MBA program, students are expected to meet a pre-program requirement that builds a foundation for quantitative analysis. Some students may be asked to take a statistics course if they do not meet the pre-program requirement based on their previous academic record.
Q: I don't have a business undergraduate degree, does that matter?
A: Many of our students do not have undergraduate degrees in business, but they all have relevant work experience. Students who were non-business majors may not be able to waive core courses, while those with business degrees may be able to waive some courses.
Q: I've been out of school 15 years. Will I feel out of place taking classes after all that time?
A: The average age of our students is 31. You will find most of our students share the same concern about not having taken classes in quite some time, and how to juggle graduate school with an already busy life. Penn State Great Valley was designed for your needs, and we are ready to accommodate your busy schedule.